Review: Tinker Bell (Graceland)

Oh, Graceland, Graceland. What do I even do with you? Season 2 has been such a mess and a downward spiral thus far. Well, at least this last episode was somewhat better. It was painful to watch but watchful nonetheless. 

So in my last review for Graceland, I talked about the changes in the group dynamic in Graceland. Well, that has continued. The "house drama" is like a soap opera--or what I imagine soap operas to be. I really can't stand it because I used to love the character interactions on the show, and now, it's like everyone's attacking one another and nobody cares about each other. I'm not liking the whole Mike/Paige storyline because it doesn't feel real. It has nothing to do with the fact that I am/was a Charlie/Mike shipper (okay, maybe it's a little bit that), but it's really just that it feels forced. And just everyone else is bugging me. I don't like where Charlie's storyline is going, but I do hope it will lead to her (and the rest of the team) finding out the truth about Briggs. I continue to enjoy Jakes' character arc, though my heart breaks for him in so many different ways. I wish Johnny would get bigger roles and cases, but I like how they're incorporating that struggle into his character.

What made this episode far above and beyond the first two episodes of this season, however, was the fact that there was some really good action going on. First, Johnny got to "shine" (sorta) with his plot line. I enjoyed seeing how Johnny works, though I wish he could've shown them how much of a badass he is. I did enjoy seeing how much he cared about the injured man, and I think it shows a lot about his character. 

The other really well done aspect of the episode was Paige's portion of the case, which is where the episode title, "Tinker Bell," comes from. Oh my gosh. Paige just shined, and I could even see Serinda Swan's passion about the topic show through. I am always glad when a show handle tough topics and situations well, and I really like where Graceland is going with this plot arc thus far (please don't mess this up, Graceland!). Human trafficking is such an important topic for the international community to discuss, and the reality of it isn't talked about nearly as much as it should be, both in the media and beyond. The thing is, a lot of people don't know enough about the problem because it isn't in the media, and it needs to be. The episode handled the issue so well, letting viewers see the side of the story from a victim's point of view. Just so important, so pertinent, and SO well done. Thank you, Graceland, for this plot arc, which is the reality for so many girls around the world. 

Johnny's case and Paige's case (that's just what I'm going to call them) are what stood out about this episode. It shows the action but also characterization of the show, and that's why I love the show. These two portions of the episode were the true highlights because it was the "YES" moment for me--the moment they went back to what makes the show so great. There's heart and soul in those scenes, in different senses of the phrase. There's action, but it's balanced. It doesn't involve all that dumb house soap opera drama. If the show can get back to the heart of the show--to scenes and cases such as these two (not the overarching bus case, but the Johnny and Paige aspects of it)--then I will be glad to put my faith back into the show.

TV Tuesday (#4): Review: The Line (Graceland)

You know when there's a show you really love that you just want to see continue to do well and go in the right direction? Graceland was sort of one of those shows for me; there were a few ups and downs last season, but I had high hopes. But alas, this week's episode, The Line, didn't live up to my expectations. At all.

In my last post, which was a Waiting on Wednesday post, I mentioned how one of my favorite aspects of the show is the group dynamic and how characters interact with one another. The thing is, that has completely changed. And with very little explanation other than "well, it's been a while..." Yes, yes it has, but that doesn't mean the whole dynamic changes just because Mike is gone. I mean, I get it...but I don't. It sucks. It was my favorite part of the show. Hating Briggs, loving Johnny, being iffy on Jakes, loving Paige, loving Charlie, changing all the time on Mike. I know that things must change, but this is not a change I like. New guy isn't really introduced to us that well, so I have no idea anything about him and/or his relationship with the others. I don't have anything to say about him. Briggs? I agree, Mike, he's just acting so unlike himself. Also, still not a huge fan of his. Johnny <3 I love Johnny, and I feel SO bad for him because he's like my baby, but even he is just...so out of it. Paige is okay, though we don't see a whole lot of her in this episode. I still don't know what to make of Jakes, so I'm just leaving it here. Charlie? Gahhhh. What do I even say? I don't want to include spoilers, so I'm leaving the majority of my opinion regarding Charlie off of here. Mike has me wanting to pull my hair out a bit. The thing is, I kind of have to agree. The whole pulling rank thing? Not cool. He's gotten SO cocky, and it annoys me. I understand it, but I don't like it. It makes him less likable, and he just comes off as being incredibly reckless. Yes, it worked this time, and he's not dead, but he may not always be so lucky. And just because he's in DC doesn't make him better than the others. And yes, he is pushing everyone away. It just makes me so upset that the characters aren't who they used to be. 

In terms of the plot, I wasn't overly excited about this one. It didn't have the same pull as some of the previous episodes. I guess it's because I kind of want to get past Caza, and while it will take us away from that focus, it hasn't been resolved yet. I know Caza will come up again, but anyway. The plot just felt really lacking. Not as exciting. Not as much going on. The other characters were barely important. I don't understand, completely, what Charlie is looking into. Perhaps it's because everything else has changed that it feels like the plot is different. I'm hoping things will pick up or get more interesting soon. The whole bus line plot sounds okay, but it doesn't sound as interesting as some of the plots from Season 1. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. 

Okay, I'm just going to stop here now because those were really the main two aspects I had any comments on, and I think those are the more important aspects anyway. I'm disappointed in this episode, but I'm praying the rest of the season will be better.

Waiting on Wednesday (#12): Graceland Season 2

This feature is hosted by Breaking the Spine!

For more info on this feature, see my features page. My version is just adapted to include more than just books.

I'm so excited for Season 2!!! Actually, it airs later today, though I can't watch it for probably another two weeks. But anyway. This is such a fun but intense summer show. So many friendships and really interesting dynamics and interactions. The show is so unique from other FBI shows in that it brings together the FBI, DEA, and other agencies. But at the heart of the show, it's about the character's interactions and dynamics, and it's so great! Please check out the show if you haven't already.

Review: O-Mouth to Smoke Alarm Bundle (Graceland)

All my shipping thoughts have been taken out of my reviews. ;)

O-Mouth (Aired July 11th)
Shhh, let's pretend I remember everything about this episode...

But seriously, I think this was the episode when Mike starts his spiral toward recklessness (sorry if that's an unpopular opinion, but Mike is one of my least favorite characters on this show). Also, Abby. Ugh. Anyway, the Briggs, Charlie, and Whistler scenes were really great. They were what stood out in this episode. There's so much that I love about Charlie, and I loved seeing her so vulnerable at the end of the episode.
(Also, the whole Briggs/Charlie almost-sex scene was quite entertaining to say the least, especially since they tricked Johnny.)

Hair of the Dog (Aired July 18th)
If I ever talk about this episode, the first thing I'll say that Vanessa and Manny deserve ALL THE AWARDS for their performance in this episode. Honestly, I think that's why I loved the episode so much. Again, seeing Charlie so vulnerable was not only important but just so well done. Seeing the repercussions of everything that happened near the end of O-Mouth was so crucial and was handled perfectly (it also set up the rest of the season so well). I think it was Vanessa at her finest, so to speak. And then the way she interacts with Johnny? *dies of perfection* Honestly, that's what I remember most from this episode. It totally outshined the Mike and/or Bello scenes. (And Abby is still just such an ugh character.) Finally, the Mike and Johnny scene later in the episode is also a highlight.

This was one of my personal favorites from S1 (also the one I consider the best episode)

Goodbye High (Aired July 25th)
You know who stood out in this episode? JAKES. And I am so glad that he had this episode to shine. This revealed so much about him and about the person that he is. His back-story broke my heart, but I could imagine it being exactly like that. And then the way he uses his experience to give Mike advice? Perfect. I really wish Jakes was a more prominent person on the show, but this made up for some of it. As for the rest of the episode? A lot of the same things I had to say for the previous two. Mike continues to spiral towards recklessness (sorry not sorry), and Abby is still just as bland and ugh (maybe I'll go into this one day, as well as why even though I LOVE Graceland, after the initial love of it wore away, there are so many flaws that are hard to see past at times).

Bagman (Aired August 8th)
I think this is where the true downward spiral began head-on for this show. I already wasn't a fan of Briggs and Mike. After this episode in particular (although it started in the previous few episodes), I was left really not liking either of them. There are times, of course, when something makes me hate them a bit less, but gahh! Also, I'm so glad Abby's FINALLY gone. And I think this is the turning point episode for Charlie. For anyone that follows the information about Graceland, you'll have some idea about what's in store for Charlie in the finale, and I think this is where they truly set it up (although the whole heroin thing before was part of it).
All in all, this didn't leave a big impression on me other than that I really don't like Briggs anymore.

Smoke Alarm (Aired August 15th)
*cries over this episode*
With the exception of a few important and well done scenes, this episode was just so lacking, particularly given everything that led up to it. It wasn't boring per say, but it was so predictable. This is truly the weakest episode of the season so far, at least in my opinion. Yeah, the end was of course another cliffhanger, but I didn't think it had the same effect as the previous ones (more on the cliffhangers in some other post). I still love all the Charlie and Johnny scenes, but this episode was just not as well done as the others were. I don't think it was because of the writing or anything but more because of the directions the characters were already headed towards and the plot and just how disappointing and empty it felt after all the episodes before it.